Longboat Key officer frees cat stuck in porch ceiling

Friday, July 12

Laundry left too long

8:05 p.m., 5000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Disturbance: Dispatch sent Longboat Key officers to investigate a disturbance call, which was reported as a man at a local resort repeatedly knocking on a room’s door. The call came in because only children were inside the unit and they were scared. Upon arrival at the scene, an officer spoke with the man. He said the people staying in this unit left clothes in the washing machine and he needed to do his laundry. After the officer advised the man there were only children in the unit, and they called 911, he apologized and an officer spoke with the oldest child to reassure them that everything was okay. 

Saturday, July 13

Watch out for wood chips

1:54 p.m., 1600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Officer Public Service: A citizen called the police concerned that birds would eat wood chips left behind by a seawall construction company. At the scene, an officer spoke with a construction superintendent who said he instructed the crew to rake the wood chips the previous day and had checked to make sure there were no wood chips left. The complainant did not wish to be contacted further, and the case was closed. 

Monday, July 15

Swerve, don’t duck

1:45 p.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal Problem: An officer was dispatched to assist a caller who said he struck a duck while driving on GMD. The caller said he pulled over and was stopped near the animal while waiting for help to arrive. Sarasota County Animal Control and Save Our Seabirds arrived on scene to take over. 

Ceiling cat

11:21 p.m., 600 block of Russell Street

Officer Public Service: A Longboat Key officer met with the daughter of the caller, who said her cat was stuck in the newly constructed back porch ceiling. The officer located the cat in a small crack in the ceiling, since it was sticking a paw out to try to free itself. Over the phone, the homeowners gave the officer permission to remove a small section of the ceiling. The officer freed the cat from the ceiling and the case was closed. 

Tuesday, July 16

Crossing the (property) line

12:21 p.m., 500 block of Yawl Lane

Officer Public Service: A resident called for police assistance because she claimed her neighbor docked a boat too close to her property line. The responding officer spoke with the neighbor, who said the boat was already moved away from the property line. 

Shark investigation & removal

1:14 p.m., 100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal Problem: Dispatch asked Longboat Key PD to assist Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium and marine patrol officers with a dead bull shark that had washed ashore. The responding officer met with personnel from Mote and LBKPD marine patrol. According to the report, the shark was found with a hook in its mouth and was believed to have been caught by a fisherman who cut the line. Marine patrol officers towed the dead shark out into the Gulf of Mexico.

Thursday, July 18

Cybersecurity advice 

2:06 p.m., 2000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious Incident: A resident called for help with a possible text message scam. An officer met with the caller, who said she received a message from an unknown number advising her that a package arrived at a warehouse for her but could not be delivered. The text also included a link for her to click on, but she said she had not yet clicked on the link. The officer said this seemed like a common scam text and she should delete the message.